Bhakti Mathur - Amma, Take me to the Golden Temple

“Amma, Take me to the Golden Temple, the first of a set stories which take children on a guided tour of India’s holy places.”

NO MAJOR SPOILERS

Hongkong based Bhakti Mathur has been making a name for herself with her Amma tell me series which delved into Indian mythology retelling the stories simply and lucidly, in language that children would understand.

Her storytelling began when she realised that she could not find any appropriate books for her two sons. The result was a series that went into the origins of popular Indian festivals like Diwali, most of which were self-published.

Now, the series has caught on and Mathur’s latest book is Amma, Take me to the Golden Temple, the first of a set stories which take children on a guided tour of India’s holy places.

Amma (Mathur) describes the approach to the Golden Temple and what the visitor is likely to see to two curious little boys in a very chatty style, throwing in descriptions of the buildings, circumnavigating the sanctum and telling stories of the Sikh Gurus. Food from the langar kitchen is thrown in to tantalise hungry stomachs.

The text is supported by attractive illustrations by Priyankar Gupta, ensuring that youngsters can both use their imaginations and eyes. The thick book is large, just the right size to be held by a mother with two children on either side. Mathur believes and rightly so that nothing can rival the feel and scent of a physical book.